University of Surrey Hosts Experts to Tackle Space Circadian Challenges

The workshop, titled Preparing for the New Space Age: Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Health While Living and Working in Space, serves as a bridge between academic research and the practical demands of spaceflight. Co-sponsored by Timeshifter, the event features Dr. Steven Lockley, a leading authority on circadian rhythms whose previous work has influenced health protocols for elite athletes and astronauts alike. Participants are set to examine critical issues ranging from sleep quality and alertness management to the impact of light-dark cycles on metabolism and immune function.

With over 15 speakers scheduled, the roster includes Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans from the NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory, Professor Derk-Jan Dijk of the Surrey Sleep Research Centre, and Dr. Smith Johnston, a former NASA flight surgeon. Dr. Lockley emphasizes that as space travel becomes more complex, establishing evidence-based countermeasures is no longer optional but a necessity for human performance. The collaboration seeks to formalize the policies and environmental standards required to protect crews as they undertake increasingly long-duration missions beyond Earth.